Chapter 374: Tian Yan: You Owe Me Compensation.
“More and more people are coming; it’s time to bounce.”
Bai Feng shot a glance at the steadily growing number of cultivators in the distance, especially with the system’s mini-map showing a *Child of Destiny* hurrying this way. So, seeing the opportunity, he quickly signaled to Zuo Qiu and made a swift exit.
Now, the water around the Spiritual Qi Pool was practically a lush garden filled with spiritual herbs—a tiny oasis from afar.
“Not bad, not bad. Finally looks a little like something,” Bai Feng nodded in satisfaction as he looked at the herbs successfully rooted inside his Celestial Ring.
And guess what? Besides its secret base function, this ring lets him hide inside if a *Child of Destiny* comes knocking. Wait until they leave, and he waltzes right back out—talk about ninja levels of sneaky.
This time’s luck really paid off. Not only did he finish off a *Fragment of the Immortal*, but he also scored a proper Immortal Artifact. Unlike the previous black lotus and arm-bearing Immortal, which were about as rewarding as a soggy sandwich.
Suddenly, a voice buzzed softly in his ear:
“Found you. Turns out, last time was just an accident. Or… maybe, our connection deepened, making it easier to locate you.”
Bai Feng turned his gaze and saw a pair of golden twin tails peek out from behind a tree.
“Since when did you start looking?” he asked, eyeing the approaching Tian Yan. “Haven’t you thought of exploring the Secret Realm first?”
“You know full well our cultivation methods aren’t the same,” Tian Yan said, walking up to him and wrapping her arms around his waist. “All I need is a handy cultivation tool like you.”
“……If you call me that again, I swear I’ll cut your cake supply,” Bai Feng grumbled.
“I got it,” she replied, quickly offering a sincere apology—well, mostly. Only she knows how passionate that apology really was.
After her quick ‘sorry,’ Tian Yan sniffed the air, face filled with doubt: “What have you been up to these past days in the Secret Realm? I feel like your fate strength has grown even stronger.”
Bai Feng shrugged. “Ran into a weird but pretty formidable finger — that’s right— a *finger*, and had a fight with it. Ended up winning.” He didn’t hold back; just laid it all out.
“A finger?” Tian Yan’s eyes flickered with curiosity, and she murmured to herself, “I was right to come find you. Others probably don’t bump into Immortal relics every day. Looks like my breakthrough to Refining Virtuality isn’t that far away now.”
“…You really think of me as just a cultivation tool, huh? Can’t you worry about me a little?” Bai Feng blurted out, a mix of annoyance and helplessness.
“Isn’t that entirely healthy?” Tian Yan reached out, pinched his arm muscles, and said matter-of-factly, “Yep, pretty sturdy.”
“Go away, don’t paw at me!”
Bai Feng slapped her wandering hands aside.
Ever since Tian Yan broke through to the Transformation God Full Stage, her emotions and actions seem to be getting more… colorful. She might still keep a poker face, but before all she used to do was go ‘oh’ or ignore him altogether. Now? She’s practically a drama queen.
Tian Yan waved off her playful torment and said calmly, “Don’t worry, from now on, I’ll take care of everything. Even if you bump into a *Child of Destiny* finger again, I guarantee nothing will happen.”
“You’re just hoping I’ll thank you, huh?” Bai Feng muttered under his breath.
Honestly, if he could choose, he’d rather not run into any more *Fragments of the Immortal* at all.
After finishing his grumbling, Bai Feng shifted his focus and set his sights on Yun Yue Yao’s direction.
“Let’s go check that out.”
—
“Another Demon Path cultivator passing through?”
Bai Feng sat cross-legged in a shimmering electric-lit ‘lake,’ slowly opening his eyes, a shadow of doubt flickering within.
This wasn’t the first time, either. Earlier, several Demon Path cultivators had come through and got casually dealt with by Zuo Qiu. Now, a new batch was approaching, heading straight for the same spot.
It was pretty obvious these weren’t mere coincidences. They must have received some intel. Plus, most of the fallen Demon Path cultivators had dropped ‘Demon Crystals’—clear signs that these guys were sent by the Divine Monarch.
What caught Bai Feng’s attention was that their route led directly toward Yun Yue Yao and Bai Yu Mo. Luckily, his divine sense hadn’t detected any danger—no alert from the Formation Disk—so it was likely just coincidence. But still, he wasn’t about to let his guard down.
If something really went south, Yun Yue Yao and Bai Yu Mo could get caught in the mess. That’s the confidence he had in the *Child of Destiny*.
“Time to fetch one for a little chat.”
Bai Feng closed one eye, and the underground formation buried beneath the lake suddenly glowed brightly. The approaching Demon Path cultivators halted for a split second before veering sharply toward his location.
Having completed his preparations, he ascended from the Thunder Pool—an energy resource he found on the map, perfect for tempering the body. But probably due to his own cultivation methods, his physique was already tough enough, so the benefits were a bit underwhelming. Still, it made a difference.
“Zuo Qiu, continue your cultivation. I’ve got some stuff to handle. Don’t follow,” Bai Feng said.
“Yes, Young Master,” came the reply from the shimmering figure.
Though the Thunder Pool wasn’t quite as powerful for him, it greatly helped Zuo Qiu’s Divine Body. Maybe, just maybe, it’d grant her a touch of ‘Thunder’ power—after all, this Thunder Pool wasn’t your average puddle of rain.
He withdrew his gaze and headed toward the Demon Path cultivators. Interestingly, even though Zuo Qiu didn’t follow, a certain pair of golden twin tails was tailing him—literally.
“Don’t you want to cultivate in the Thunder Pool?” Bai Feng asked, eyeing the brisk pace of the tiny, quick-to-walk Tian Yan.
She shook her head. “No need. I’d rather stay close to you and cultivate side by side.”
Even though it sounded a little… ambiguous, Bai Feng knew well enough that Tian Yan was just using him as a living energy canal.
“That’s going to cost you,” he quipped casually.
Tian Yan tilted her head. “Can’t my paying me with hugs count as the fee?”
“…When did your skin get so thick?” Bai Feng’s lips twitched, nostalgic for the days she used to be more silent.
She blinked, pondering. “Seems so…”
Just as Bai Feng thought she was finally realizing her emotions couldn’t be bottled up forever, she suddenly lifted her head and said brightly:
“This must be because we’ve been together for so long it’s rubbing off. You owe me compensation—like, holding me tight while I cultivate from now on.”
“……You’re shameless, huh!”
And just like that, Bai Feng felt his patience slipping.
